From the equality of rights springs identity of our highest interests; you cannot subvert your neighbor's rights without striking a dangerous blow at your own. Carl Schurz

Friday, December 28, 2012

Staying in your discomfort zone

In conversation with those I know of the conservative bent I often hear dissatisfaction with much of what Harper inc. does or doesn't do. yet when I ask why they continue to support him I invariably hear Who else is there or the other guys are worse.Of course this is bullshit and they know it, the real issue is they are just hanging on and are fearful thus are sticking with the devil they know. While sticking with a government and a system that is responsible for this state seems insane, here we are all the same.

On one level I want to grab them by the collar and give em a good shake but on the other I see them for what they are , victims. Victims of a series of governments, the media and a system that has deliberately  cultivated the precarious and fearful state most of us live in these days.All the better to tame and control. However merely keeping people fearful isn't enough you also need to convince them that they are on their own, that every one else is simply greedy and are only looking out for themselves thus a threat to you and yours.

It is for this reason various protest movements haven't been able to engage the greater public. We saw this with Occupy (|Dirty Hippies), the Quebec Student movement( entitled youth) and don't get me started with the labour movement we are now beginning to see the same with Idle No More. Too many see these movements as others trying to get a bigger slice of a shrinking pie at their expense.

While each of these movements genuinely profess support for each other this support usually involves holding meetings, making speeches, writing letters, tweeting and yes writing blogs, that is not enough.

You want to reach the seemingly unreachable and shock them out of their discomfort zones then take to the streets en masse. Let them see thousands of Canadians of every background united in taking to the streets and engaging in non violent civil disobedience, agitating for a better society for all then and only then would we have a chance to turn this thing around.

1 comment:

  1. One problem is that people just believe whoever is the most confidence and vote for that person.

    ReplyDelete